1 EAGLETON NOTES: Eighty

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Tuesday, 4 June 2024

Eighty

Today is my 80th Birthday.

It's a Marmite Day. That is to say one either loves it or hates it.

A friend recently reached that age and refused to acknowledge it.

I want everyone to know and I shall be celebrating. Nothing extravagant: just coffee with friends in the morning at The Woodlands. In the evening Gaz and Carol are taking me and my sister-in-law (who is staying with me at the moment) out for dinner.

The reason I am celebrating is not just for myself but in thanks to our wonderful NHS without which I would not have lived much past my 16th birthday. At that age I had a disease that still kills people today. However by a stroke of good fortune I was referred to a specialist who (and there were long waiting lists for some operations even then) removed much of one of my diseased lungs.

Since then I've lived with cancer since my prostatectomy in 1997 because some cancer cells had already escaped elsewhere my body. However every time so far that the cancer has started to show signs of asserting itself the medics have found a way to stop it. The last, and currenet, treatment started about 7 or 8 years ago with a drugs trial which proved very successful for me.

I had a heart attack in 2000 and had 6 stents inserted.

I could go on but I think that's quite enough evidence to justify my grateful thanks for the wonderful people who work in our National Health Service.

Thank you one and all.

69 comments:

  1. Congratulations and well done for fighting on through all the medical setbacks. I was surprised when my hubby reached 80 because he too has had a life of medical issues.

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    1. Thank you, Diane. I hope that you and hubby enjoy your wonderful community life for a good while yet.

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  2. 80 Not Out! I'm sure such a positive attitude helps. Lesley

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    1. Lesley, I thing your are right. Positivity might not keep you alive but negativity can certainly ruin a life.

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  3. Well done for keeping positive...it really does help...and have a happy birthday!

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    1. Thank you, Gwynneth. It does. And I had a very happy day.

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  4. Many happy returns to you. Eighty is getting on a bit, and I think it is nice of you to thank the NHS. Like here, our public health system can and mostly does work extremely well. Do have a terrific birthday.

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  5. Happy happy birthday Graham! And may you have many more of them to come :) xx

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  6. Happy Birthday, Graham, and congratulations on beating the odds. Given your success until now who can bet against you making a hundred? Public Health systems, like democracy, are never perfect, but they are a lot better than the alternative. I am eternally grateful for universal, free coverage here in Canada.

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    1. David, if I were a betting man I probably wouldn't put money on reaching 100. Most of my family on my mother's side lived into their 90s but.....

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  7. Happy birthday, Graham. You have every reason to celebrate. Enjoy your day and the days and years that follow.

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  8. Happy Birthday and I am sure you will live on into your 90s as I seem to recall is the way with your family. Good luck and enjoy your day and your house guest.

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    1. Rachel, you recall correctly, as always. Thank you.

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  9. There is a sense in which you are a living miracle Graham and a great advertisement for the N.H.S.. Wishing you a very happy 80th birthday!

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    1. Neil, I've certainly had more good fortune than most. Thank you for your good wishes.

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  10. Many happy returns. What does that really mean? Multos & foelices! Or should I just say Happy Birthday.
    The NHS is indeed wonderful when it works. I'm still here too.

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    1. Tasker you made me curious. My research suggests this is a traditional and conventional birthday greeting “I/we wish you many happy return of the day.” The day, being your birthday, which comes around (or returns) each year. In other words, the greeting wishes you a long and happy life.

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  11. Happy birthday!Iam 79.Hoping to make my 80th.
    Barbarax

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    1. Thank you, Barbara. I trust that your hope will be rewarded.

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  12. Happy birthday, Graham! I can't help but think of all the doctors and nurses charmed by you over the years.When a person is grateful, that shines through to all. Have a wonderful day and give my love to your special friends and neighbors on your island.

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    1. Thank you very much, Kay. Our mutual Island friends plus Jo and I had coffee on my birthday morning at The Woodlands - where else? I'll drop you a line separately soon.

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  13. Happy Birthday, Graham! Medicine can be so amazing and I am glad you had good care. Best wishes for a happy year filled with good health and fun adventures!

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    1. Thank you, Ellen. I'll let you know if I have any fun adventures 😂

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  14. Happiest of happy birthdays to you, GB!!! You are one of my favorite people, and I am glad to see you riding the merry-go-round-the-sun again with a surfeit of joy and gratititude... it warms the cockles!

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    1. Thank you Marcheline. I hope that one day you will both return.

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  15. Happy Birthday Graham. May you have many more.

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    1. Thank you, JayCee. I would certainly hope to be around for a little while yet.

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  16. We have much to be thankful for - not just the NHS. That you are on a (relatively) small island out in the Atlantic with technology that enables you to share your life with friends all over the world, that you can safely and easily pop out for coffee, then supper, and come back to a warm home, and so much more.

    Such a lovely post to read today, so Many, Many Happy Returns to you, and here's to many more. 😘 🎂 🎉

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    1. Thank you, Jayne. I am very aware of how fortune I am and I never cease to be thankful and give thanks where they are due.

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  17. Happy birthday, Graham! You DO have a great deal to be thankful for.

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  18. Happy birthday, Graham. You share your birthday with my b-in-l, Bill who is 90 today. You two share a positive attitude, a zest for life and the ability to overcome which I'm sure is a secret to a long and happy life. You are proof that gratitude is a very successful medicine.
    Enjoy your celebrations.

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    1. Thank you very much Pauline. Please give my best wishes to Bill.

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  19. Happiest Birthday! Have a wonderful time
    You are much appreciated.

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    1. Thank you, Maywyn. That's very kind of you.

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  20. If I was there, I'd love to buy you a coffee and cake for your 80th. I hope you had a wonderful day.

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    1. I did indeed, Kylie. The opportunity to chat with you over a coffee would be wonderful.

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  21. Happy Birthday Graham. I'm not far behind you, and like you I am a huge fan of our NHS, doctors, and nurses.

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    1. Well, Cro, I hope that we both continue on our present paths for a while yet.

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  22. Congratulations on your milestone. It is nice to read from someone who has gratitude for what the health services have done to improve their life expectations; so often all we read is from the people who have been disappointed in what they expected to get or felt they were entitled to.

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    1. Tigger's Mum, I find happiness in gratitude. I try to ignore the occasional disappointments which we all inevitably experience from time to time.

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  23. Hope you had a great day! Glad you were able to celebrate with both friends and family, and still found a little time for your online friends as well! ♥♥

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    1. Thank you, Monica. A missive will be winging its way to you shortly. Despite that fact that I've not spent as much time in Blogland recently as I would have liked, my blogland life and friends are exceedingly important to me.

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  24. Congratulations, Graham! Here's to many more. Xx

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  25. Happy birthday! you're doing awesome btw. Marmite - hmm I quite like it but only in small amounts on a piece of toast, it's such a Kiwi thing.

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    1. Amy, When I was living my New Zealand life I always had a problem with Marmite because New Zealand and Aussie Marmite is different to the Marmite in the rest of the world because of a hiccup in the patenting procedure.

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  26. As usual, I am (too) late to the party... Nonetheless, here's wishing you all the best for this new decade in your life! May it be as positive and filled with things to be grateful for as the previous ones.
    My Mum's 80th birthday is coming up in August. We're in the middle of preparations to mark that special day, only a week after my sister and I return from our Yorkshire holiday.

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    1. Thank you, Meike. You are not usually late to the party in my experience but you've arrive dwhich is what matters! I hope that your Mum's celebrations are as good as mine are (still) proving to be. I'm sure with you and your sister organising them it will be a success.

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  27. Lucky I checked my feeds today as I missed this so am also late to the party like Mieke.... and it appears facebook didnt' remind me either - but Happy Birthday and i am amazed how much you have packed into the last few years despite all those health issues! I hope you had a wonderful time celebrating with those you love xxx

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    1. Hi Fi, nice to bump into you here! It's been a long time since you last blogged; have you moved to a different platform or just not been blogging at all? Anyway - I hope you are well!

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    2. Thank you Fi. Interestingly Facebook didn't mention my birthday to me either which is unusual. I've either upset it of perhaps the algorithms have been altered. Ironically I still getting posts about friends who have passed on to pastures new (and better, I hope).

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    3. I have been very remiss on the personal blogging front Meike - but I still read most of them! xx

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  28. Dear Graham, forgive my tardiness ... the computer Gods were against me!
    I do want to join all your many friends in wishing you a wonderful "milestone" birthday!
    I wish to go on record and agree with you that a positive attitude can and will work wonders with one's health! Be happy, my friend!

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    1. Hello, Jill. Thank you very much for your good wishes.

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    2. rhymeswithplague7 June 2024 at 18:53

      A verry happy and slightly belated birthday to you, Graham. Welcome to the start of your ninth decade on planet Earth. I’m three years ahead of you. I too am thankful for your National Health Service, for without it I would not have made your excellent acquaintance through blogging, even though it remains long-distance and virtual. May you have many, many more happy birthdays ahead of you.

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    3. Thank you, Bob. I've just noticed your comment stuck on the back of Jill's comment. Thank you.

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  29. I'm running late with my response, but that doesn't diminish my best wishes, Graham. A very Happy Birthday to you, from me! :)

    You certainly are a tough one...never letting the problems life sends your way get you down. I admire your determination to face and deal with life head on. You are a good man...deserving only good things. I hope it is the good only, that from now on goes your way.

    My best wishes and thoughts to you. :)

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    1. Hi Lee, I've been running late all week. Thank you for your kind comments. I'm almost blushing (but it's so cold here that the blood vessels are all hiding!

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  30. Hello from Idaho! Found a link to your blog on High Riser. The coffee is always on.

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    1. Good morning, Dora, I loved your blog's heading quote.

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  31. Congratulations for getting there. We felt the same when my husband reached 80 after all the health problems he has had over the years. Thanks to medical science and clever doctors.

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    1. Thank you, Dianne. My apologies for being so long in acknowledging your comment.

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  32. A very much belated but nevertheless sincere, Happy🎂🎉 Birthday to you Graham and I hope that your celebrations were not only wonderful but will be continue ALL year long. You have definitely been through a myriad of medical issues over the years and glad (as you are certainly) that you here to share and celebrate and continue living the good life.

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    1. Thank you, Beatrice, I am thankful every day for my good fortune and for the friends that I have in my various lives.

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